Scott Hamilton and Stuart Kells provide a detailed timeline of Australia's handling of the Indigenous reconciliation issue.

In a world where governing is becoming increasingly difficult and the pressures on public servants are rising, how can leaders navigate transformation and disruption? Being skilled at communicating with all types of staff and communities and understanding their values and needs can help define progressive outcomes.

Twenty-eight years of economic prosperity has led to spending becoming the default policy lever, worries Victorian Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions boss Simon Phemister. Plus, why he thinks ministers do value frank and fearless advice and is wary of private-sector plants.

Where are the guardians of Western civilisation when you need them? The Prime Minister’s address to the public service on 19 August should ring alarm bells in every public office in the country, especially those of conservative orientation.

The Morrison government's proposed Commonwealth Integrity Commission might struggle for credibility. It has opponents lining up inside and outside federal parliament, including many senior members of the legal profession, some of which are actively campaigning for a stronger model. Those critics do not appear ready to let it go.

In this world of the machine, or the artificial, there are a number of challenges to accountability. First and foremost, we need to create herd immunity through digital literacy. We need to know what these new systems are, what they can do, how they work and what the limitations are.

Accountability is a term often thrown around as a worthy goal in government and business dealings, especially in the cyber space. So, it is worth spending a moment considering what we mean – and what governments mean, when they commit to accountability in dealing with information.

Elections have special requirements. Ballot privacy is mandated by law. And elections must demonstrate that the result accurately reflects the choice of the people. So, what has iVote proven?

When we want to be be perceived as having answers rather than as knowing what questions to ask, we are putting the cart before the horse. It means we end up prescribing activities with no clear goals. The best course of action is always determined by the sort of question we need to answer. Here are the mental traps to look out for.

Two leaders in policing reflect on the practical changes they made to boost the number of women hired and promoted at Victoria Police. Doing so did more than just make itself look good on paper, but contributed to addressing its greatest operational challenge, keeping women and children safe in those contexts where they should be safest.

The world of work is changing. Technology, flexibility and the way we think about careers are redefining the workplace. The public service is not immune from these changes, which create an imperative for transforming how the public service operates.

There are really only two choices for this country: We can take pride in our diversity and use it as an advantage when interacting with the world, or we can hunker down behind borders and slowly gnaw at each other.

How can a public servant have a role in policy leadership while not overstepping the line? The nuance required couldn't be found in the guideposts defined by Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison. Instead, some point to the stewardship function, in which public servants find themselves navigating determined politicians and a public in need of sustainable policy.

To dismiss design thinking as originating outside the public sector and therefore “not always fit for purpose” is to ignore the common challenge faced by different sectors: understanding a problem, predicting the best way to solve it and then working out what might happen in practice.

Joseph Maltby is a subject matter expert in change management, employee engagement, and project/program management who worked in the US Department of Homeland Security as the chief of organisational culture and development. He gives us the benefit of his sound advice on how to tailor one's mindset to the practical reality of working in government and the public sector. Follow his path and secure a long and fulfilling career in public service, you will.